Mystery Monorail

[CP5670]

Be patient and join your local LUG. I got two 6991s and a bunch of extra track/motors that way. Paid about 200USD for the lot. Forget about 6399, it's really way too expensive and you can MOC something just as nice with pieces in your stock, imho

The moulds may have been destroyed or not (if never seen a really good source for this quote), but Mark Stafford have said that TLG did _not_ make money of that system. IF they made a new one, it would probablty be in 400USD range and thus only targeted to AFOLS. Who does not buy enough LEGO So, it's a no go for TLG

Also, it's not really kid friendly. It's large, very expensive (even back in the day, _I_ did not have one, my friends either and we sure had shitloads of LEGO and parents somewhat willing to pay)

Lastly, you do not buy a monorail and drop into your city/train layout. You _design_ your layout around the monorail as it is extremely unflexible and commands it's place. And that is in three dimensions

Really difficult

All good points. The track sections are too large and unwieldy to just place anywhere. For my space layout, I started with the monorail layout and then built other models that would fit into it. As much as I love the monorail system, it had a number of limitations (especially with the monorail cars) and I don't plan to expand my layout any further. The custom track systems that Masao Hidaka and others are designing look very promising.

I got a couple copies of the space monorails about 10 years ago but never got 6399 either, which was way too expensive even back then and wouldn't have fit in with the rest of my space-oriented monorail layout.

[1974]

Your layout is made of awesome

I too have had some difficulties in making it work in a large playset. I did get a nice one sorted for my city but only after I tore everything down and started designing around the monorail insead of just trying to drop it into an existing setup

I'ts all gone now, and instead I have multiple smaller spacebases on small elevated platforms that I interconnect with the monorail

I prefer the limited classic monorail instead allthough I have mine remote controlled (and thus speed variable) with a hacked 7898 pcb

Don't find the chassis/bogies and that limiting (my cars are allways 4 wide anyway), but I would like to have another motor unit colour or the cover in another option than red. But that's not gonna happen

[quilkin]

This system is simple, obsolescence-proof, reliable and versatile - and ideal LEGO theme!

Have a go and let's see what you can build with this system. The more of us build some and share pictures, the more support it will get and the more TLG will be convinced it will sell as a kit

Mark, many thanks for your posts here and instructions in your Brickshelf folder. I have made some track sections similar to yours and a simple train to start with; also now some points controlled by a NXT motor. But I have question about the curve design and wondered how you calculated the number of bricks required for a 45 degree bend. By my measurements you would need more than 18 incremental bends to achieve 45 degrees, unless the parts are strained which would make the design 'illegal' from a TLG point-of-view (see my comments on Hidaka's cusoo page). Shouldn't we be using a wider radius if we want to conform to standard use of parts? (my measurements give a 0.25mm gap for each 2x1 brick which is 8mm wide; that's an angle of cotan (0.25/8) which is about 1.8 degrees - so 25 incremental bends to get 45 deg.)

[SwissBrick]

Finally found a 6399 airport shuttle!!!!

It was sold used on swiss kind of ebay, with every single piece and it's working... 320 USD approx. was it a good deal?

Now should I use it and display it like it in my city or should I "merge" it with the 8404 Tramway, what do you think?

How to integrate it in the city, along with the trains...mhmm probably not, removing the trains from downtown and only use the monorail... combine it with the 7937 train station (2X) and have a big "station" in the city center... what would you do?

Thanks a lot in advance for your advice and thoughts

[HomerJSimpson]

Jordan Schwartz who was one of the designers of the Palace Cinema is an AFOL. He was offered an intern position in the Design Lab in Bilund after having applied for a designer position. He probably just likes the old monorail and put it in the poster.

In the past we've been told by LEGO employees that the moulds for the monorail track have been destroyed, and that when surveyed kids in the target market find monorails boring, so we are unlikely to see a new monorail.

So they find going to Disney boring?

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Finally found a 6399 airport shuttle!!!!

It was sold used on swiss kind of ebay, with every single piece and it's working... 320 USD approx. was it a good deal?

Now should I use it and display it like it in my city or should I "merge" it with the 8404 Tramway, what do you think?

How to integrate it in the city, along with the trains...mhmm probably not, removing the trains from downtown and only use the monorail... combine it with the 7937 train station (2X) and have a big "station" in the city center... what would you do?

I would say yes, that is a decent deal for a fully working complete 6399. When they appear on ebay/US, which is becoming less and less it seems, they go for $350-$500 pretty easy. Right now there is only a NIB one for $2,200.

Personally, if I had a monorail, I would keep it original, and try my best to build the majority, if not all of the track, raised above ground. Preferably, as it's name's sake, a direct line to my airport. If no airport, somewhere around the city. Again keeping it above ground and other train lines. I would also consider modding 7937 for monorail access from the walkway above the train. I am interested to see what you do with your new monorail

[SwissBrick]

Thank you for your response LEGO Gui Bri!

mhmm, no airport, but yes let's try to connect to 7937 and have a big station at the border of downtown and suburbs...(upper level was what I had in mind too), not sure yet if it will be a circle line or straight back and forth one..

Will post pics when building